The curse of Iggy Azalea is spreading to television

Just because someone knows what makes good TV, doesn't mean they know how to make conscious TV.

Be prepared — some artists can’t just stick to one thing. We know this, though. We know celebrities branch out. They’re singers then actors then producers then designers then TV show hosts. It seems as if they can practically do anything. I mean, with all that money, I probably could too. With all Iggy Azalea’s money, she has decided to spread her rapping wings and land in the television business. Again, not that surprising. But just because it isn’t surprising, doesn’t mean it’s not horrifying.

Horrifying, mostly, because, well, it’s Iggy Azalea, and she has problems. I mean, how could we not love Iggy’s ridiculously blatant cultural appropriation? Not only a white rapper, Iggy also incorporates other cultures inaccurately into her music. All you need to do is watch “Black Widow” or “Bounce” and I think it’s pretty clear. But let’s remember that Iggy Azalea is not only those music videos—she is so much more! For instance, she is a prominent figure in the fight against reverse racism, seen in her comments on Beyoncé’s Lemonade. She didn’t think it was “very cool” for Beyoncé to “generalize” white women on her popular track, “Sorry” by referring to them as “Becky.” In streams of tweets, Iggy wholeheartedly defended her stance, obviously not able to separate herself from the intensely, personal and profoundly revolutionary Lemonade.

But now, in another chapter of Iggy’s life, she has decided to make her way into the television business, but producing “millennial-focused programming.” Instead of the usual front-and-center role that Iggy has had in her various endeavours, she will now hold a backstage presence as she works with Universal Cable Productions and Wilshire Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In a statement, Iggy expressed that “creating television that is reflective of my generation has always been an aspiration of mine.”

[bctt tweet=”Iggy’s contract leads us to another stage of our growth — the fetishization of social justice.” username=”wearethetempest”]

Furthermore, it’s said that Iggy will be focusing on shows that address social justice and empowering women. Although it’s unclear what form these shows will take, they are said to be both scripted and non-scripted, lead by Iggy’s “strong, passionate voice for her generation and … incredible creative instincts in all aspects of media.” Just because someone knows what makes good TV, doesn’t mean they know how to make conscious TV.

[bctt tweet=”Not only a white rapper, Iggy also incorporates other cultures inaccurately into her music.” username=”wearethetempest”]

Iggy’s contract leads us to another stage of our growth — the fetishization of social justice. As our society shifts towards a more socially conscious climate with the new generation of young adults, these ideas also become more popular. While we should welcome belief systems like feminism, social justice, and human rights into the mainstream with open arms, we must be wary of those who have not in the past. Not to say that we should distrust people who have changed their minds, but let us be wary of those who have seemingly changed their minds for personal gain.

It is easy for the fight to be beneficial to someone like Iggy Azalea, because she never bears the brunt of what she is “fighting” for. And she plans to produce shows based around social justice and empowerment of women? Where are you fighting for women of color? Where are you fighting for women who do not necessarily adhere to conventional “standards of beauty”? Your fight begins with breaking down stereotypes, with casting, with exposure, and with awareness. Where, I ask, will that be? Again, we don’t know anything, but I sincerely doubt it.